Curtain-stretcher.



N9. 869,026. PATENTED'OGT. 22. 1907,

M. A. SMITH.

CURTAIN STRETOHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN, 24, 1906.

WUWESSFS /g PATENT onnion.

MARY A. SMITH, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA CURTAIN-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application filed January 24,1906. Serial No. 297,668,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARY A. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to curtain stretchers and has for its object the provision of a device of this character upon which curtains of varying sizes-may be readily secured for the purpose of stretching, drying and bleaching the same.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a curtain stretcher which may be hung upon a wash line together with means ior supporting said curtain stretcher while upon said line.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a curtain stretcher made in sections which are adapted to be fold ed upon each other in such manner that the pins upon which the curtains are secured when the device is in use, are folded inwardly and are protected by the portions of the device by which they are carried.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which now follows:

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a curtain stretcher constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of said curtain stretcher. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a curtain stretcher showing the position in which it rests while the curtain is being secured thereon, and Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation illustrating one of the clamping nuts and screws and a hinged pin carrying arm to which the ends of the curtain are secured when the device is in use.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawing.

The curtain stretcher forming the present invention is formed of longitudinal side members 6 and 7 and transverse end members 8 and 9. The longitudinal side members comprise bars 10 and 11. The bars 10 are provided with hooks 12 adapted to engage eyelets 13 carried upon the bars 11 to lock the bars 10 and 11 in alinement with each other said bars being hinged to each other as at 14. The outer ends of the bars 11. are slotted as at 15 and are provided with a graduated scale as at 16. Through these slots pass screws 17 upon which are threaded thumb nuts 18. The screws 17 also pass through the member 9, one of said screws passing through a slot 19 formed in said member. A graduated scale is formed upon said member adjacent said slot. The inner face of the side bars 10 and 11 are beveled as at 21 and along these beveled edges are arranged hooks 22 adapted to engage the curtain placed upon the stretcher. The transverse end member 8 is also secured to the side bars by screws 17 and thumb nuts 18, one of said screws passing through a slot 23 formed in said end member 8. A graduated scale 24 is formed upon said member 8 adjacent said slot. Hooks 24 secured to the transverse end members 8 and 9 provide means for hanging the stretcher upon a wash line 25. Legs 26 are hinged as at 27 to the lower ends of end members 8 and 9. An adjustable support comprising an upper notched member 29 and a lower member 30, which are bound together by thumb screws 31, aids in supporting the device in an upright position to relieve the wash line of some of the strain incident to the weight of the device, the legs 26 at this time resting upon the ground. I-Iinged as at 32 to the members 8 and 9 are bars 33 upon which are secured pins 34-.

The operation of the device is as follows: The pins 22 and 34 having been engaged with a lace curtain, the thumb nuts 18 are loosened to permit the member 9 to move away from the member 8 to thereby stretch said lace curtain as will be readily understood. When the curtain has been placed under the desired tension, the lower side bars 10 and 11 are then moved away from the upper corresponding members until the curtain has been placed under the desired tension across its width after which the thumb nuts are tightened to clamp all of the bars in their adjusted position. The device may then be hung upon a wash line or the legs 26 may be bent downwardly as in Fig. 3 and be used to support the device upon the ground.

\Vhen it is desired to fold the herein described stretcher the hooks 12 are disengaged from the eyes 13 and the arms 11 folded upon the arms 10. This causes the front face of the bars 10 and 11 to lie together, the beveled edges 21 of said bars forming a V shaped recess at this time in which the hooks 22 lie. By virtue of this construction these hooks are protected when the device is stored away.

From the foregoing description it will be seen tha simple and efficient means are provided for accomplishing the objects of the invention.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

A curtain stretcher frame comprising a pair of end bars side bars formed in hinged sections secured to said end bars, adjustable connections between said side and end bars. members arranged parallel with said end bars out side the frame and hinged thereto to swing rearwardly thereof, said side bars and said hinged members being provided with curtain pinsv and hooks arranged at the upper ends of said end bars and designed to engage a suitable support to hold said frame in an upright position, said end bars being jointed adjacent their lower ends, and the lower portions thereof being, adapted to be bent rearwardly to serve as supporting legs for said frame when in the hori zontal position, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I aihx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARY A. SMITH.

Witnesses I'IARRY N. Llinsen, Janus H. Ennr. 

